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GloQube Glow Discharge System for TEM Grids and Surface Modifications

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GloQube Glow Discharge System for TEM Grids and Surface Modifications

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GloQube Glow Discharge System for TEM Grids and Surface Modifications

The GloQube® is a compact, easy-to-use glow discharge system primarily used for the hydrophilisation (wetting) of TEM carbon support films and grids. Other applications include surface modifications, for example for enhancing polymer bonding.

The GloQube has a convenient single drawer with two independent vacuum chambers: a clean chamber for glow discharge applications requiring hydrophobic/hydrophilic conversion and a vapour chamber designed for hydrophilic/hydrophobic (negative or positive) conversions.

The GloQube® is a compact, easy to use, stand-alone glow discharge system.

The primary application of the GloQube® is the hydrophilisation (wetting) of carbon-coated transmission electron microscopy (TEM) support films and grids which otherwise have the tendency to be hydrophobic. Glow discharge treatment with air will make carbon films and other surfaces negatively charged and hydrophilic and allow the easy spread of aqueous solutions. This and other processes are outlined below.

Surface state

Charge

Atmosphere

Typical applications

Hydrophilic

Negative

Air

Carbon coated TEM grids

Hydrophilic

Positive

Air with magnesium acetate post-treatment

Nucleic acid adhesion to carbon films

Hydrophobic

Positive

Alkylamine

Proteins, antibodies and nucleic acids

Hydrophobic

Negative

Air

Positively charged protein molecules, (e.g. ferritin, cytochrome c)

Single drawer, twin chambers

The GloQube uses a single drawer with two independent vacuum chambers: a clean chamber for glow discharge applications requiring hydrophobic/hydrophilic conversion, typically using air as the process gas, and a vapour chamber designed for hydrophilic/hydrophobic (negative or positive) conversions, typically using reagents such as methanol and alkylamine.

Safe handling of reagents

With operator safety and ease of use firmly in mind, reusable septum-sealed reagent vials are used. Loading and removing reagents is both convenient and reliable and ensures minimal user contact with the reagents.

The vial is located in its holder and inserted into a shielded needle using a simple twist-and-push action.

Easy sample loading, fast turnaround times

Each of the twin chamber can accommodate two 25 x 75 mm glass microscopes slides. Loading could not be easier using draw-style chamber doors and specimen stages. The stages are height adjustable and fitted with removable glass slide holders.

For convenience and to allow easy access for chamber cleaning, the stages can be completely removed.

Vacuum, automatic valving and controlled venting

The GloQube has automatic valving between the twin chambers which maintains cleanliness by preventing cross-contamination. At the end of a glow discharge process run, automatic "soft" venting to atmosphere through filtered inlets ensures that delicate samples, such as carbon coated TEM grids, are not disturbed.

The GloQube require a single vacuum pump working in the 0.1 to 1 mbar range. A typical pump time to operational vacuum is 60 seconds. A 750 mm flexible stainless vacuum hose is supplied with the GloQube.

Touch screen control – rapid data input, simple operation

The GloQube® is fully microprocessor controlled via intuitive touch screen allows multiple users to rapidly input and store preferred glow discharge “recipes”. Typical default glow discharge treatment protocols are loaded as standard. Additionally, help files and useful maintenance data such as system on time and time since last clean are readily available to the operator. An Ethernet communications port is included for software updates.